Southern California -- this just in

Malibu kitchen worker beaten to death while taking out trash

A kitchen worker killed at a Malibu restaurant was brutally beaten and staggered to the front of the building before collapsing, investigators said Monday.

The employee was last assigned to trash duty before his body was discovered around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, said Tony Waldrop, manager of Guido's on the 3800 block of Cross Creek Road.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials initially investigated the case as a shooting death, but are now calling it a beating, which they say occurred near the back of the restaurant.

The victim's body will undergo an examination Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office, said Lt. Cheryl MacWillie. The victim's name will not be released until his family is notified, officials said.